Monday, December 30, 2013

When
dealing with challenging people and circumstances how does the Lord want me to
respond?I’m not sure I know the answer…but
I do know that I sure don’t feel like I’m handling it like I should.

Lord…I
need Your wisdom to guide me.Your Holy
Spirit to put a guard over my mouth.Draw me to You, to bring everything to you in prayer so I can receive
wise counsel, comfort, strengthening, encouragement or woodshed time when
needed.

Help
me to keep my eyes and focus on You and Your Word.May I be sensitive to Your Holy Spirit.Thank You Lord for always hearing me and
being my ever present help in times of trouble.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

When
going to church on Sunday morning, I bring my Bible and a notebook to jot down
things that our Pastor Philip De Courcy says during his sermon.When the notebook is filled it goes on the
shelf, seldom to be opened again.

For
a while now…I’ve been thinking that perhaps I need to have a more record of
what I’m taking away from our Sunday morning service.This won’t be a recap…more likely bullet
points.A place for me to record what the
Lord is saying through the study of His Word.

Today
we studied Psalm 46.

God the Refuge of His People and Conqueror of the
Nations

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of
Korah. A Song for Alamoth.

46 God
is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams
shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

7 The Lord of hosts is
with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of
the Lord,
Who has made desolations in the earth.9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am
God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

11 The Lord of hosts is
with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Noah
Webster Quote…God can save by many or by few…Their greatest weapon was their faith in God.

Psalm
46 is a celebration for what God does for those who trust Him.

Even
in the face of monumental trouble.

Will
we continue to trust Him?

God
is our help in the midst of trouble

Not
a bubble or protected from all trouble

God
does promise to meet us in the midst of the trouble.

Sometimes
God calms the storm.

Sometimes
He calms us in the midst of the storm.

Our
trust is in God Who is sure in the midst of trouble.

Martin
Luther Quote…my conscience is bound by the Word of God.

Faith
in God delivers security

A
sense of well-being

Not
an absence of trouble.

Security
is the ever present presence of God

From
Vs 1 – Trouble = a tight spot…painted into a corner

This
was a time of great shaking for Israel...a time of upheaval.

No
sense of security…nothing firm beneath your feet.

What
are we going to do?

Trust
in God

Deuteronomy
33:27

God
was their greatest stronghold

Tucked
under the shelter of God Himself

Our
Shelter, our Safe Tower

Where
will my shelter be this coming year?

Quote
– Frederick Nolan…where God is, a spider’s web is like a wall.Where God is not, a wall is like a spider’s
web.

Our
God is inexhaustible...an able supply of resources.

A
Strong Refuge

Invincible,
inexhaustible

He
will supply the necessary strength equal to the trial.

God’s
help is timely…in the nick of time…2 Kings 19:35

The
strength of God that is our help when we need it.

There
will be grace when we need it and for what we need it for.

God’s
strength is timeless

He
is our Help from of old.

His
strength has always been present

Psalm
90:1-2 – our Refuge in every generation.

God
is immutable…He does not change.

There
is help from of old.

God
has unlimited resources.Faith in God
provides sufficiency…waters that refresh.

2
Chronicles 32:30Hezakah redirected the waters to come into the city of
Jerusalem.

Rivers
of Living Water

Peace,
joy, comfort, righteousness

A
living well and living water within you…the Holy Spirit

A
fount of every blessing…calls for songs of loudest praise.

Story…Amazon
River…pushes itself out to sea 90 miles.Surrounded by salt water, underneath the boat was fresh water…but they
didn’t know it.They were asking for
fresh water, but they already had an abundant supply.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

No
Five Minute Friday to prompt me.No
hustle and bustle of the holidays to distract me and keep me going like the Energizer
bunny.

It’s
seems this is the first quiet Saturday morn in weeks.I have time to think and reflect on all that’s
gone on in the last few weeks and months.To quiet my heart and mind and listen to the Lord.

Lessons
I’ve had in the past, some of which I’ve failed at miserably, are coming around
again.This time I’m facing those
lessons with the Lord Jesus Christ, with my heavenly Father to give me wisdom and
the Holy Spirit residing within me.May
I incline my ear to the Lord, listen carefully and follow His leading and
guidance as I navigate these waters afresh.

May
I have the mind of Christ and the love of God.May I be obedient and honor God with all I do, say, think and feel.

May
I stay in close communication with God, not forsake time in prayer and listening
to Him through His Word, which is perfect, inerrant and complete.May I boast in nothing except for Jesus
Christ and Him crucified.May my heart
be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when He nudges me or corrects me or convicts me
of sin.Help me to be mindful of my
absolute need and dependence upon You Lord and please keep me close.

As
of late, I’ve been feeling empty, spent and depleted with nothing left to
give.Even the simplest task seems like
more than I can handle.I need to be fed
and replenished spiritually from God’s Word and through worship and praise of
my great God and Savior.I need the
physical rest and sleep so that I’m no operating on empty.I need to renew my mind through the washing
of the Word.

I
can scarcely believe that Christmas has already come and gone.Not only that…but we are on the edge of a New
Year.I would never have guessed all the
changes that happened in 2013, how it’s ending.What will the new year hold?Only
the Lord knows and I need to stay close to Him each day.Keep my eyes on Him, not my circumstances,
other people and especially not myself.

Sunday, December 01, 2013

I'm pleased to announce that blogger Ceil from Evangelize to Me is the winner of Priscilla Shirer's new book God Is Able.Ceil please send me an email (susanwalkergirl@gmail.com) with your mailing address and I'll put the book in the mail.Congratulation Ceil...hope you enjoy the book.

Sword of the Spirit

A Little Something

I’m 57 and though I’m not what I should be, praise God I’m not what I used to be. I spent many years angry at God, running from Him and tried to deny His existence. Through the loving witness of my neighbors the Bocks, I saw a clear picture of God who loves me. At 32, I recognized I was a sinner, repented of my sins and received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I know that God still answers prayers. For many years I prayed for a husband and on the eve of my 49th birthday, God brought Chris Wachtel into my life and 7 months later we were married. I am conservative in my politics, but a former liberal. I even campaigned for Jimmy Carter and I rue that day. I find liberal leftist thinking, while well intentioned, ultimately flawed. I’ve been abundantly blessed by God with gifted pastors and teachers. I’m most grateful for Pastors Philip De Courcy and Chuck Obremski who faithfully taught the Word of God. I've also grown through BSF and CBS Bible Studies. God has recently moved us 1,500 miles from CA to TX. Not sure what the Lord will be doing in us and through us, but I am grateful to be walking with and depending on Him each day.

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My Colors Will Be Clear

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

I no longer need position, promotions, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my destination is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few. My Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of the One that gave me life, drew the line in blood for me in the hour of my destiny.

I am one of Christ's remnant people. I belong to Him and none other. All I do to bring this life to another is done because of that blood covenant poured out for me.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. I must share will all that one more might hear and be drawn from the flaming darkness that longs to consume. Reach for another, touch but one more!

Until that moment...He will have no problem in recognizing me- my colors will be clear!!!

Not only are the words inspiring but so is the man behind them. The above letter was written by a Pastor in Africa who was undergoing severe persecution. On the eve of his execution he sat down and wrote the above note.